Soundcore Frames offer stylish audio experience
Anker Innovation’s Soundcore Frames Bluetooth eyewear with audio is everyday eyewear with great looks and impressive sound. They were developed by Soundcore to bring a more stylish audio listening experience to the market, which they did.
They feature your choice of detachable styled frames and interchangeable temple arms, with Soundcore’s pull and plug quick release system.
Four small speakers, two on each side, are built right into the glasses’ temple. The main speaker is toward the front, and the other is toward the back to produce the stereo sound with Soundcore’s patented OpenSurround system with different sound levels. If you expect headbanging party music, that is not what you get. You hear clear audio delivered in an open-ear listening experience from a custom audio processor.
Even while in use, they are designed so you’ll hear what’s around you. To instantly pause the audio, take the glasses off; the on-ear detection with proximity sensors automatically pauses the audio and powers them off after two minutes. They start playing when you put them back on, or can be controlled by your smartphone.
While wearing them, you must wonder if others will hear the audio, and they will at times. I kept the audio to my preferred lower levels, but I turned it up in public to see if others could hear the music. I was only questioned once about where the audio came from in a checkout line. The response was, “Those are way cool.” The app also has a privacy mode to reduce sound leakage, which does help keep others from listening.
Each arm has built-in noise reducing microphones for hands-free calls, customized voice controls and the Apple voice assistant Siri. Answering calls is done with voice and touch controls. Customization of the Frames controls is done in the Soundcore app for the touch and swipe motions for volume, audio quality with the custom equalizer, answering calls, and music track control.
Each temple arm has a built-in
110mAh battery, a port for a USB charge and LED indicator lights. A single charge will produce 5.5 hours of playback, and a 10minute fast charge will give 1.5 hours.
The versatility of the looks of the Soundcore Frames comes from the interchangeable frames. There are 10 styles to choose from, with different sizes, shapes and lens styles. They range from tinted, polarized sunglasses to blue light filtering or clear everyday lenses.
The app and website feature a virtual try-on experience, enabling consumers to find the perfect frame style and sizing for the right frame, lens, bridge width, and temple length. A 3D image with a 180-degree viewing angle lets you see how different styles frames appear on your face from any direction. When you have what you think is your final choice, snap a photo to show friends and family for a second opinion.
Frames can be fitted with prescription lenses, but Soundcore doesn’t offer them as an option. Instead, take the frame to your optometrist to replace the standard lenses with prescription ones.
The frames are built with Bluetooth 5.2 and have an IPX4 water-resistant rating for protection from splashing water. A case and magnetic USB charging cable with two lines for charging both arms together.
A basic kit with one frame is $199.99, and additional frames are $49.99.
https://us.soundcore.com